Method of making a cartridge



Dec. 27, i966 W. E, WQODmNG ET AL 3,293,979

METHOD OF MAKING A CARTRIDGE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed March 50, 1964 INVENTORS.

Affili WILL/AM B. WOODR/NG CHARLES O` W/LL/AMS AT TOPNEV Dec. 27, i966 W B, WOODRlNG ET Al. 3,293,979

METHOD oF MAKING A CARTRIDGE 2 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed March 30, 1964 INVENTORS. W/LL IAM B. WOOD/P/NG CHARLES O` W/LL/AMS ATTORNEY United States Patent Olice 3,293,979 Patented Dec. 27, 1966 3,293,979 METHOD F MAKING A CARTRHDGE William B. Woodring, Stony Creek, and Charles 0. Williams, Hamden, Conn., assignors to Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, a corporation of Virginia Original application Mar. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 355,853, now Patent No. 3,261,291, dated July 19, 1966. Divided and this application Oct. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 510,125 2 Claims. (Cl. 86-36) The present invention relates to cartridges and relates, inV particular, to low cost cartridges. This application is a division of co-pending application Serial No. 355,853, filed March 30, 1964, now U.S. Patent No. 3,261,291.

A particular feature of the present invention is the provision of a dependable cartridge having a minimum of structural piece parts.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of a plastic or metallic cartridge of low cost and simple, uncomplicated design.

It is a further feature of the present invention to provide in a plastic or metallic cartridge a metallic container structure which serves dually as a primer package and as a rivet `for retention of the container within the Cartridge.

It is a further feature of the present invention to provide a simply constructed, closed primer package.

It is a further feature of the present invention to provide in a plastic shotshell a novel head structure in com bination with a rimfire-type primer.

It is a further feature of the present invention to provide a plastic shotshell having a raised annular boss projecting from the head thereof to effect a bolt engaging surface.

It is a further feature of the present invention to provide in a cartridge a rimfire-type primer so constructed and arranged with respect to the cartridge head that the primer can be fired by squeezing a portion of the rim thereof between the head of a firing pin on one side and the cartridge head on the other.

It is a further feature of the present invention to provide in a cartridge a primer which is riveted into the cartridge head.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision in a cartridge of a rimfire primer eccentrically mounted with respect to the cartridge head so that the primer may be fired in a conventional center fire rearm.

The invention also embraces the concentric disposition of a rimre type primer in a plastic shotshell and in this embodiment of the invention it is necessary to use a shotgun in which the firing pin is eccentrically mounted.

A cartridge embracing certain features of the present invention may comprise a tubular body connected to a head, said head having a central aperture for receiving a primer, a rimre type primer disposed in the aperture and projecting into the interior of the tubular body, said primer being closed and having a pair of spaced annular rims effective to make a rivet-like connection with the head of the cartridge.

A method of riveting a rimre primer to the head of a 4cartridge embracing certain principles of the present invention may comprise the steps of inserting a primer having a tubular body and an annular rim into a primer opening in the head of a cartridge so that the rim of the primer is seated against the head of the cartridge and the body of the primer projects into the interior of the cartridge and upsetting that portion of the body of the primer which projects into the interior of the cartridge to develop an outwardly projecting flange or second rim effective to rivet the primer to the cartridge.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from an examination of the succeeding specification when read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section of a plastic shotshell embracing the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of a plastic shotshell including too-ling shown schematically for fastening a rimfire primer;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary View of the lower portion of FIG. 1 with appropriate sections for clarity showing the disposition and configuration of the primer with respect to the plastic shotshell head after riveting;

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein the primer is eccentrically disposed in the shotshell head;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the primer and head structure of the present invention after firing.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 designates a plastic shotshell having a tubular body 11, a head 12, flange 13, primer aperture 14, integral closure 16 (integral closure is intended to mean that the closure is integral with the body 11), protective collar 15, shot charge 17, filler wad means 18, cup wad 19, powder charge 21, and double-rimmed, rivet-like container or primer 22.

The primer 22 has a first rim 23 for receiving primer compound 24 in well known fashion. The primer 22 is formed with a second rim 26 which, in combination with tubular body 27 and first rim 23, defines a rivet structure operative to retain the primer within the head of the plastic shotshell.

As is most apparent in FIG. 3, the primer is gathered or pleated as at 28 to form a closure sufficiently tight to prevent powder 21 from dropping into the interior of the body 27.

Obviously the crimps and pleats shown at 28 are releasable as is apparent from the condition of the primer closure indicated by the reference numeral 29 in FIG. 5 after the occurrence of firing.

If desired, the plastic shotshell head 12 may be formed with an outwardly projecting annular boss or shoulder 31 to effect a bolt engaging surface.

The boss 31 insures that upon closing the bolt, the forward face of the bolt engages the boss 31 and drives the shotshell 10 forwardly to seat it in the chamber of the shotgun so that the flange 13 is snugly seated in the chamber 32 as shown in FIG. 1.

The boss is s0 dimensioned with respect to the head dimensions of the shotshell and the breeching dimensions of the gun that the shell is placed under slight compression as the breech is closed. This insures full delivery of the firing pin blow to the primer, with no loss of energy by cushioning of the blow.

Note that the rst rim 23 of the primer 22 is seated in a recess 33 so that a plane including the boss 31 will be offset and spaced from the primer. Thus, the bolt face does not strike the primer.

In addition, the recess 33 is oversize relative to the diameter of the rim 23 to insure that, upon firing, there is no interference with firing pin 34 (FIG. 3) as it impacts with the rim.

Referring to FIG. 2, the process of developing the second rim 26 to rivet the primer to the plastic shotshell is disclosed schematically. A rimfire primer 36 is shown seated in the primer aperture of a plastic shotshell with its first rim 23 bottomed in recess 38 and a forwardly projecting closed head 39 extending into the shotshell interior. An anvil 41 supports the entire surface area of rim 23 and crimping tool 42 is lowered slowly into contact with closure 39 to deform the rosette of closure 39 into the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 effective to develop second rim 26.

The primer 36 as shown in FIG. 2, lled with suitable priming material 24, is closed `and pleated in rosette fashion prior to insertion into the shotshell and prior to formation of the second rim.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment wherein a rivet-like primer 44 is eccentrically disposed relative to.

the shotshell head 46.

It is anticipated that a wide variety of modifications may be devised in the present invention Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of making a cartridge comprising providing a one-piece tubular body having a head portion With a primer opening therethrough, providing a onepiece rimre primer having a first closed end portion including a rim, filling the interior of said rim with priming material, closing said other end of said primer by pleating in rosette fashion, inserting said primer into said primer opening until said rirn seats on said head portion and said other end extends into the interior of said tubular body, and upsetting said other end of tubular primer to develop an outer projecting ange in contact with internal surface of said head portion whereby said primer is riveted in place.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first end is supported by an anvil during said upsetting step and said upsetting is accomplished by moving a crimping tool toward said anvil into contact with the other end of said primer to develop said flange.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 4,491 8/1871 Berdan 102--45 X 226,167 4/1880 Gardner 102-43 838,493 12/1906 Bailey 102-45 3,055,302 9/1962 Bayard et a1. 102-43 20 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

P. A. SHANLEY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A METHOD OF MAKING A CARTRIDGE COMPRISING PROVIDING A ONE-PIECE TUBULAR BODY HAVING A HEAD PORTION WITH A PRIMER OPENING THERETHROUGH, PROVIDING A ONEPIECE RIMFIRE PRIMER HAVING A FIRST CLOSED END PORTION INCLUDING A RIM, FILLING THE INTERIOR OF SAID RIM WITH PRIMING MATERIAL, CLOSING SAID OTHER END OF SAID PRIMER BY PLEATING IN ROSETTE FASHION, INSERTING SAID PRIMER INTO 